Zimbabwe: Virginia hospital has closed its neonatal intensive care unit services after seven premature babies got injured mysteriously by an unknown abuser who remained on the loose. The couple has claimed, as an unidentified staff member at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond fractured their newborn baby’s leg when he was at the NICU, as discovered by the child services of the state.
Reportedly, the authorities opened a probe into the inexplicable fractures when four babies were injured in the summer of 2023 and three more were hurt in November and December of 2024. Dominique and Tori Hackey were among the parents who got affected, as they welcomed their twin boys Noah and Micah at the hospital in August 2023. Noah was doing well until Dominique noticed that his left leg was not moving.
Dominique said that it was discolored and told the doctor on staff to get some x-rays as they were aware that the leg was fractured, so they will splint it for the next two weeks and then she asked if he wants to hold him.
The couple said that they did not want to hold Noah for fears as the hospital would blame them for the injury. Dominique further added, “In my mind I’m like, I don’t want them to turn it around on us and make everyone think that we broke his leg or anything like that so I refused and said no, we don’t want to hold him, we are just going to process this.”
Noah Hackey was one of the seven babies who suffered inexplicable injuries at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Noah’s fracture was caused by an unknown employee of the social services at the hospital.
Considering this, the hospital has closed its neonatal intensive care unit after seven premature babies suffered with mysterious injuries by an abuser. The x-ray is a proof that Noah’s tibia was fractured and as per Dominique the hospital suggested that the injury was accidental.
Dominique further added that it could have been due to the injection which was given to Noah and maybe they did it too hard and this caused the fracture. As this concerned him and he contacted the child services.
In September, he received a review of their investigation which found that there was level-1 physical abuse of Noah, which is the worst level in Virginia. The letter from child services recorded that following through CPS investigation this agency has determined the dis-position of the report recorded level-1 physical abuse of Noah by an employee in the Henrico Doctor’s Hospital NICU.
As per the recent reports, Noah has fully recovered and is pictured with his mother Tori. Dominique also expressed that one of his biggest regrets is not reaching out sooner and saying something as it could have prevented somebody else’s child from getting hurt.
The Hackeys have asked that anyone who suffered with the similar experience at the hospital should reach out to them. The hospital said that they are reviewing the video footage and will provide it to the police for further search and investigation. Noah’s parents have also asked other potential victims from the NICU hospital to contact them.
Maria Reppas, the communications director for Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the institution is working with the hospital on this investigation. She further said that the Health and Safety of those receiving care in this NICU should be at the top priority.
The Licensure and Certification Office of VDH in association with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken immediate action to identify potential concerns. They are also monitoring specific corrective actions, considering which Reppas added that they are working closely with other state and local partners, including the Henrico Police Department and Virginia State Police.